Fan banned over Sol Campbell chants

A 34-year-old Telford man was today banned from every football ground in the country for taking part in obscene chants against Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell.

Stuart Turner was part of a group of Tottenham Hotspur fans whose "disgusting" behaviour shocked decent supporters, especially families with young children, a court heard.

Fans were appalled by the abuse aimed at the former England player. A magistrate said they had acted like "animals".

Turner, of Queen Street, Wellington, was one of four defendants who pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today to indecent chanting.

They were each sentenced to a three-year football banning order, fined £370, ordered to pay £120 costs and pay £15 to a victim surcharge fund.

Magistrate Susan Waddle said: "There were families present, very young children. We also heard from witnesses who found the behaviour disgusting and embarrassing.

"No doubt you are upright members of society, but in there you acted like animals, like a herd.

"This was well-rehearsed – everyone was in sync, everyone knew the words – it was not something that just happened on the day.

"Whether or not Mr Campbell was offended, decent members of the public found this very offensive and so did the bench.

"Anyone who indulges in this disgusting behaviour will be dealt with very severely by the courts."

The charges related to chants made at Portsmouth Football Club defender Campbell during a match against Tottenham Hotspur at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, on September 28 last year.

Detectives released CCTV pictures of the Tottenham fans suspected of what was said to be racist and homophobic chanting.

Appearing in the dock with Turner were Richard Gibbs, 36, of Wokingham, Berkshire, Oliver Sylvester, 28, of Southampton, and Keith Stevens, 54, of Hailsham, East Sussex, who also all admitted indecent chanting.

Four other men ranging in age from 13 to 48 denied indecent chanting. A trial date was set for May 13.

The FA had previously stated it would ban for life any fans it could prove were involved in the chants.

By Peter Johnson